The contract is for six years and worth roughly $39 million, according to Bartelstein. The Grizzlies used their full mid-level exception to sign Cardinal.

Cardinal had a breakout year for the Warriors last year, averaging 9.6 points and 4.2 rebounds per game while shooting a red-hot 44 percent from 3-point range. He's a tough-nosed, energetic player who should be perfect in Hubie Brown's system.

Several teams, most notably the Bulls, also were in the running for Cardinal.

"He's going to be a perfect fit in Memphis," Bartelstein told Insider. "I think Brian recognized that the Grizzlies were a team where he'd maximize his potential."

Man I will forever hold this day in my heart.This is easily jerry west's worst move ever.This makes me sad every time his name comes up.Six freaking years!Dude is never leaving!He will be totally bald by the time his contract is up.

Yeah, Grizz got owned pretty badly. Thing is, I still remember Cardinal during that stretch with GS and he did seemed like a good fit. Of course, when you factor in that it was the first (and probably last) time he ever raised his game to that level, and remember he was in a contract year, it's still pretty stupid to throw him the kind of deal West gave him.

Still, the Cardinal signing doesn't surpass by any means the Big Country fiasco, nor the day dumba$$ Steve Francis refused to play in Vancouver.

I dont know.I think west tarnished if not ruined his career here.He was only able to make the grizzlies a weak playoff contender.Was not able to put real talent around pau.He had horrible drafts his entire time here. Chris wallace has already revamped this years roster and put a real big man next to pau.

I remember this guy playing in Spain when he was waived by the Wizards in 2003. He seemed to me a definitely bad player. I will never understand how he was able to make a season like he did in GS before coming to the Grizz.

I read somewhere that West signed Cardinal mostly to stick it to team management. They had been hounding him about why he hadn't used the MLE (cause he was being smart and not just throwing it at anyone), so while they stood in his office he called and offered Cardinal the full MLE on the spot, an "are you happy now?" type move. Something along those lines... Maybe I can find the story i read it in....

Edit;here it is;

Quote:

An exceptionally well-connected league insider once told me the story of how Brian Cardinal got his mid-level. Seems Memphis owner Michael Heisley, frustrated by general manager Jerry West's lack of activity, walked into West's office one day and asked why he hadn't signed anyone yet. So an exasperated West picked up his phone, called Cardinal's agent and offered the mid-level on the spot. Then he turned to Heisley and said something along the lines of "There, you happy now?"